Sporting KC Promotes New Zealand International James Musa to First Team

Stone Sports Management LLC (Columbus, Ohio) - August 11, 2017

Stone Sports Management LLC ("SSM") announces New Zealand International James Musa's signing to Major League Soccer and Sporting KC for the remainder of the 2017 MLS Season. The 25-year-old British-born becomes the fourth player to join Sporting KC from its affiliate after signing with Swope Park Rangers during the off-season where he started 18 mathces and helped them to its current 3rd place in the USL Western Conference standings.

"It was one of my goals to progress to the first team when I signed for Swope Park Rangers," Musa said. "I have done that and am very happy. I want to thank Peter Vermes, Mike Jacobs and the entire organization for giving me this opportunity to represent Kansas City and for Sporting KC. I cannot wait to get started and play in front of this amazing fan base."

After making his Swope Park Rangers debut at central defense in Week 2 (earning Team of the Week), Musa played as the club's defensive holding midielder and part of a defense that kept 9 clean sheets in his 18 starts, including 5 straight during the start of summer. He ranked 3rd in USL for total passes (1,219) and 2nd Passes per 90 minutes (67.7) and had a standout passing performance against Phoenix Rising completing 103 out of 108 passes (95.3% Accuracy).

Sporting KC invited James Musa to its 2017 pre-season but suffered a small injury. Head Coach Peter Vermes and his staff kept a close eye on Musa during his Swope Park Rangers performances and called Musa into first team training these past weeks, ultimately deciding on offering him a contract after the summer transfer window closed.

"When we brought James in for the Swope Park Rangers, we brought him here for two purposes," said Vermes. "One was as a central defender and the other was a defensive midfielder. We wanted to see if he would adapt to our model of play, and I think he has progressed tremendously through the course of the year with the Rangers. We think this is a testament to the system that we have put in place where players can sign and play for the Rangers while continuing to develop toward a first-team contract. James is a very good decision-maker and reads the game well. He brings a lot of really good qualities to our team, and we look forward to integrating him into the squad."

"I am thrilled for James for accomplishing one of his goals to sign with MLS, and he is deserving after his strong, consistent player for Swope Park Rangers," says SSM's President and USSF Licensed Intermediary Justin B. Stone. "There were numerous domestic and international clubs who made offers for James at the end of the 2016 season, and we believed that signing with Swope Park Rangers and in Sporting KC's system gave him the best chance to develop, so it is fitting to see that plan realized. There is more to this plan, and this is one step for more accomplishments but also a time for reflection and congratulations to James. I also want to publicly thank Peter Vermes and his staff for their confidence in James during the club's MLS playoff push and US Open Cup Championship as well as Mike Jacobs, Brian Bliss and Swope Park Rangers' Head Coach Nemanja Popovic and his staff for their work behind the scenes and on the pitch."

Musa is elibigle for this weekend's Western Conference match up against 2016 MLS Cup Champions Seattle Sounders at Century Link Field. His promotion and recent performances has him in the running to be called into New Zealand's upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against the Solmon Islands. Click HERE for Sporting KC's remaining schedule and congrats once again to James!

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About Stone Sports Management, LLC

From developmental to Designated Players, Stone Sports Management, LLC is a Columbus, Ohio based boutique sports agency representing football/soccer players domestically and internationally. Led by President and USSF Licensed Intermediary Justin B. Stone, SSM has established itself as a leading North American agency since its 2008 inception by taking a cooperative approach to athlete representation, which provides increased opportunities for its clients. After gaining trust from clients representing over 75 nationalities, Mr. Stone has negotiated more than 145 contracts for his clients based in Belgium, Canada, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United States, including more than 20 International clients to MLS/NASL/USL.